Cesar Amilcar Zuniga Ruiz Killed in San Juan Capistrano H...
85-year-old driver arrested on felony charges following deadly Ortega Highway collision
Cesar Amilcar Zuniga Ruiz, 23, of Los Angeles, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Highway 74 near La Novia Avenue in San Juan Capistrano, California, early Monday, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The collision occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. when the vehicle struck Ruiz as he crossed the road. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics pronounced Ruiz dead at the scene. Anthony Konstantine Kalomas, 85, was arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail on felony hit-and-run charges after investigators identified him as the driver who fled the crash site.
The Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the case.
No further details about the vehicle were immediately released.
According to analysis of NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data, 1,749 of the 7,080 pedestrian fatalities in the United States in 2024 involved hit-and-run drivers (25%).
The sudden loss of a loved one in a hit-and-run leaves families grappling with deep grief and unanswered questions. While the criminal justice system pursues accountability for the driver who fled, civil investigations focus on the underlying factors of the collision.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Security cameras mounted outside gas stations, restaurants and private homes have become valuable tools for identifying drivers leaving a serious collision without stopping. Footage from nearby cameras often gets automatically deleted within days depending on storage capacity, so timing matters enormously for building a strong case."
"An attorney familiar with digital systems can request preservation of recordings before footage disappears," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Why did the driver flee the scene on Highway 74?
Hit-and-run collisions often involve secondary factors such as panic, lack of insurance, or impairment, which authorities will evaluate as they build the criminal case against the suspect.
How do criminal charges impact a civil case in Orange County?
California wrongful death statute
Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. California applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.
"Crash reconstruction specialists measure tire marks and vehicle locations immediately after major collisions happen. Those physical clues help experts figure out how fast vehicles were moving before impact," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "A legal team helps grieving families by bringing in independent experts to verify official reports and protect long-term family interests."